e-skills UK works with Lloyds TSB to increase digital skills among small business owners and charities

e-skills UK’s new Enterprise IT Guide is featured in Lloyds TSB’s new Digital Toolkit, which has been recently launched to encourage small businesses and charities to understand the benefits of the web and encourage them to have a strong online presence.

The Enterprise IT Guide contains impartial, jargon-free information on choosing and using technology. It is specifically written by experts to help smaller organisations understand the business benefits of using technology, and make the most of the opportunities it provides.

Research undertaken by Booz & Company shows that two thirds of UK SMEs are not making the maximum use of digital technologies and so losing out on the benefits it brings. The report estimates that annual total turnover of UK SMEs could be boosted by £18.8 billion if these firms sold and marketed online.

Furthermore, research undertaken by Lloyds TSB Commercial and Optimisa shows that 36% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK have no website, and only 4 in 10 charities are using the internet to help raise funds. It is no surprise that the research also shows that businesses who do take steps to improve their digital maturity report multiple benefits. Over half see cost savings, more customers, and – perhaps most importantly for SME growth and our economy – more sales.

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The Enterprise IT Guide contains more than 100 free guides ranging from ‘choosing your first computer’ to ‘social media marketing’, and from ‘website optimisation’ to ‘cloud computing’. Written in a clear, direct style, each guide provides straightforward advice on using IT to improve sales, raise funds and reduce costs.

Karen Price, CEO, e-skills UK said: “We are delighted that our resources have been made available to Lloyds TSB customers, and we look forward to sharing new content as we develop it. This is the one of many initiatives from our new Digital Skills Academy, which is dedicated to increasing digital skills in the UK.”

Matthew Perry, Director of Digital Business Banking at Lloyds Banking Group said: “We believe that one of the key avenues for business growth and risk management is through digital capability. Research shows that organisations which have embraced digital capabilities report clear benefits, and there is a clear link between the digital maturity of business and its turnover growth. Our own research also demonstrates that there is a real need to provide SMEs with support to improve their online presence and digital skills – and that’s why we have worked with e-skills UK to develop a new digital toolkit for small businesses, opening up the rich resources they offer, to all our SME customers.”

For those businesses and charities interested in maximising their online presence, guidance on how to optmise web presence can be found at the following: http://www.enterpriseitguide.com/

The Enterprise IT Guide received co-investment from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills via the Employer Investment Fund.

e-skills UK is the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology, rated ‘outstanding’ in the latest relicensing of Sector Skills Councils. We work on behalf of employers to develop the software, internet, computer gaming, IT services, cyber security and business change expertise that the country needs to thrive in the global digital economy.